Wind turbine setpoint reduction

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods for determining a maximum power setpoint for a wind turbine comprising determining a temperature of one or more wind turbine components, and determining one or more component temperature errors by determining a difference between the temperatures of the wind turbine components and a corresponding threshold temperature for the components. The methods further comprise determining a present power output of the wind turbine and determining the maximum power setpoint at least partially based at least on the component temperature errors, and on a present power output of the wind turbine. The present disclosure further relates to methods for determining a setpoint reduction and to wind turbine control systems and wind turbines configured for such methods.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for determining a maximum power setpoint for a wind turbine comprising:
 determining a temperature of a first wind turbine component; 
 determining a first component temperature error by determining an actual temperature difference between the temperature of the first wind turbine component and a corresponding threshold temperature for the first wind turbine component; 
 determining a present power output of the wind turbine as an indication of present heat production in the wind turbine component and a future temperature of the wind turbine component; and 
 wherein the determination of the maximum power setpoint is based at least partially on the first component temperature error and the present power output of the wind turbine. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the component temperature error is used in a first control to determine a first offset power setpoint used in the determination of the maximum power setpoint. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the maximum power setpoint is limited to a rated power for the wind turbine when a power setpoint based on the first component temperature error and on the present power output is higher than the rated power. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the maximum power setpoint is set as the power setpoint when the power setpoint based on the first component temperature error and the present power output is lower than or equal to the rated power for the wind turbine. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the present power output is used in a second control to determine a second offset power setpoint used in the determination of the maximum power setpoint. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the maximum power setpoint is set as a sum of a rated power of the wind turbine, the first offset power setpoint, and the second offset power setpoint, when the sum is less than the rated power of the wind turbine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the maximum power setpoint is set as a sum of a present power output of the wind turbine, the first offset power setpoint, and the second offset power setpoint. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first wind turbine component is one of a generator, a main transformer, or a power converter. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising operating the wind turbine according to the maximum power setpoint. 
     
     
       10. A control system of a wind turbine, the control system configured to perform operations comprising:
 determine a temperature of a first wind turbine component; 
 determine a present power output of the wind turbine; 
 determine a first component temperature error by determining an actual temperature difference between the temperature of the first wind turbine component and a threshold temperature for the first wind turbine component; 
 determine a maximum power setpoint at least partially based on the first component temperature error and on the present power output, wherein the present power output is used as an indication of present heat production in the wind turbine component and future temperature of the wind turbine component; and 
 control the wind turbine based on the maximum power setpoint. 
 
     
     
       11. The wind turbine control system of  claim 10 , wherein the wind turbine component is an electrical generator, a power converter, or an electrical transformer. 
     
     
       12. A wind turbine, comprising the wind turbine control system of  claim 10 . 
     
     
       13. The wind turbine of  claim 12 , comprising one or more sensors configured to determine the temperature of the first wind turbine component. 
     
     
       14. A method for determining a maximum power setpoint for a wind turbine comprising:
 measuring a first temperature of a first electrical component of the wind turbine; 
 comparing the first temperature with a first temperature threshold established for the first electrical component to determine a first temperature error value corresponding to an actual temperature difference between the first temperature and the first temperature threshold; 
 determining a present power output of the wind turbine; 
 controlling a first power setpoint of the wind turbine with a first offset determined in a first control based on the first temperature error value, and a second offset determined in a second control based on the present power output of the wind turbine used as an indication of heat production in the first electrical component; and 
 determining the maximum power setpoint for the wind turbine to be the lower of a rated power of the wind turbine or the first power setpoint. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising
 measuring a second temperature of a second electrical component of the wind turbine; 
 comparing the second temperature with a second temperature threshold established for the second electrical component to determine a second temperature error value corresponding to an actual temperature difference between the second temperature and the second temperature threshold; 
 controlling a second power setpoint of the wind turbine with a second offset determined in a second control based on the second temperature error value, and a second offset determined in a second control based on the present power output of the wind turbine used as an indication of heat production in the first electrical component; and 
 determining the maximum power setpoint for the wind turbine to be the lower of a rated power of the wind turbine, the first power setpoint, or the second power setpoint. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising operating the wind turbine according to the maximum power setpoint by pitching one or more blades of the wind turbine or reducing a rotor speed to operate according to the maximum power setpoint. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first wind turbine component is a part of a generator, and the second wind turbine component is a part of a converter or a part of a transformer.